Pamela Tracy - Once Upon a Christmas

Gently, he tried to take Caleb from Maggie’s arms.

But Caleb, even in sleep, was already comfortable and he wasn’t letting go. His hands curled into Maggie’s shirt and his head nestled tightly into her neck.

“I think he likes me,” Maggie said.

“He just likes girls,” Cassidy reminded her.

“Now you’re going to have part of a boot all the way to your nose,” Beth said. “Stop moving. I’m going to need to do some boot repairs here.” She nodded toward Caleb. “Why don’t you guys take him to the nursery? He’ll be more comfortable. I’ll finish with Cassidy while you’re gone.”

Jared nodded, already turning to head from the gym. Maggie followed, letting him open the doors for her. The hallway was almost empty. The crafters had packed up what was left. The stragglers were either helping with cleanup or children of the cleanup crew. Almost everyone said something personal to Jared. More than a few introduced themselves to Maggie even while raising an eyebrow.

Small towns were the same everywhere.

After a moment, they were at the nursery’s door. Jared hit a dimmer switch that allowed him to adjust the light. Just able to see, he headed past a few rocking chairs, a changing table and to a crib. “He won’t be happy waking up in one of these, especially if one of his brothers finds out.”

“Then we won’t tell them.”

Maggie gently rubbed Caleb’s back. He was heavy against her chest and smelled of sweat and hot dogs and little boy.

Maggie figured his father smelled of sweat and hot dogs and big boy.

“You know your way around this church,” Maggie remarked as she lay Caleb down. “This nursery reminds me of a church in Lubbock. I spent many a sermon sitting in it while taking care of Cassidy.”

“So you do go to church? I’ve never seen you here.”

It was too late to erase the words. Blame them on an overload of nostalgia. Maggie tucked the blanket over Caleb. “At one time I went to church. I don’t see the need now. Although, your church is lovely. I like how everyone interacts. I was never at a congregation long enough for the members to get to know me.”

“I’d hate that. Why did you move so often?”

“My husband was military.”

“Was?”

Maggie busied herself by brushing a strand of Caleb’s hair out of his eyes and tucking him in yet again. After a moment, Jared sat in one of the rocking chairs and said, “You don’t seem to have trouble fitting in. Beth thinks highly of you and so does my brother.”

“They have to think highly of me.” Maggie turned to face Jared. “I stock the kind of clothes Beth likes, and I paid your brother in cash for the work he did on my shop and plan for him to do more.”

Jared laughed. The sound was deep and showed Maggie a side of the man she doubted many saw. Most of the time, like when he was trying to meet with his son’s teacher, or clean up messy pancake batter, or drink coffee, or even push hot dogs at a church function, he came across as way too serious.

“I think I need to think highly of you, too,” he confessed.

“Why?”

“I watched you with Caleb tonight. He and Cassidy were like twins, running here, running there, running everywhere. You kept them in sight, you kept them in control and never once lost your patience.”

“I’ve had years of practice—first with my dad, who expected me to practically salute when he issued an order, and then with my late husband.”

“Your husband expected you to salute?”

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.